I Peter 1:6-13  We rejoice!  For our God has shown us His grace and mercy. He "caused us to be born again"; He has given us an imperishable possession and a powerful, protected salvation to come.  So, when the trials come.. and they will.. we can keep on rejoicing.  For as James wrote and Peter echoes.. the "testing of our faith produces endurance".  

There is a purpose in this testing.. an untested faith is an unproven faith.  How do we know that our faith is sure?  How do others know that we have faith?  It is sure when it endures through the trial!  When we are distressed... by disease, by our culture, by disaster, by persecution, by misfortunes, by financial, physical, emotional.. or any kinds of problems... our faith is tested.  If we continue to trust our Lord.. if we continue to praise Him and rejoice in Him... that is a testimony of a "precious" faith that will "result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  O Lord, may it be so in me!

Peter reinforces the substance of our faith.. Jesus! ".. though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (v8-9) 

We do not have a blind faith.. but we have faith in the One who we cannot see.  Remember what Jesus said to Thomas?  "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." ( John 20:29)  He was talking about us!  We are blessed because, even though we have come on the scene much later than Thomas... God our Father has "caused us to be born again".. He has given us "living hope".  He has promised us a glorious future.  He has chosen us to be His own.  We have been "sprinkled" with the blood of Jesus!  Yes, we are blessed! We have been saved!

Peter reminds us that the prophets spoke of this "grace to come".  They wanted to see Jesus! Even the angels longed to look at this wonderful gospel.  It is a gospel like no other.. that Jesus became a man, died on a cross as the Lamb of God, slain for our sins...and rose again on the third day.. a resurrection that brings us to "faith and hope in God". (v21) This is the gospel that Paul testified about.. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.. " (Romans 1:16)

Father in heaven, we praise You and rejoice in this great salvation that is our in Jesus Christ as we believe and receive Him with great joy!  May our lives overflow with this joy even in the trials of life to the praise and glory and honor of Your Name.  Father, we now "gird [our] minds for action."  We will "keep sober in spirit".. and "fix [our] hope completely on  the grace to be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Lord, haste the day, when our faith will be sight!  Amen.